Direct Pulp Capping: What is the Most Effective Therapy?-Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Direct pulp capping therapies use biomaterials to protect exposed tissues, inducing repair through the production of a mineralized barrier. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of biomaterials and techniques by means of a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: The PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases were used to search the literature published from January 1, 1980 until August 31, 2017. Studies that met inclusion criteria were screened by 2 authors individually. The meta-analysis was performed on mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) cement vs calcium hydroxide cement, tricalcium silicate cement vs MTA cement, and adhesive systems vs CaOH cement and evaluated the success rate, inflammatory response, and dentin bridge formation. RESULTS: Forty-six studies were included in the systematic review, while 22 studies were included in the meta-analysis. There was no significant heterogeneity between the studies. MTA cements showed a significantly higher success rate, in all parameters, compared with calcium hydroxide cements (odds ratio = 2.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.90-3.90; P = 0.000). However, when compared with the tricalcium silicate cements, there were no statistically significant differences (odds ratio = 1.18; 95% CI = 0.53-2.65; P = 0.672). Adhesive systems showed a significantly lower success rate, in all parameters, compared with calcium hydroxide cements (odds ratio = 0.062; 95% CI = 0.024-0.157; P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: MTA cements have a higher success rate, with a lower inflammatory response and a more predictable hard dentin barrier formation than calcium hydroxide cements. However, there were no differences, in these parameters, when MTA cement was compared with tricalcium silicate cements. Dental adhesives systems showed the lowest success rates.

Evaluation of dentinogenesis inducer biomaterials: an in vivo study.

When exposure of the pulp to external environment occurs, reparative dentinogenesis can be induced by direct pulp capping to maintain pulp tissue vitality and function. These clinical situations require the use of materials that induce dentin repair and, subsequently, formation of a mineralized tissue. OBJECTIVE: This work aims to assess the effect of tricalcium silicate cements and mineral trioxide aggregate cements, including repairing dentin formation and inflammatory reactions over time after pulp exposure in Wistar rats. METHODOLOGY: These two biomaterials were compared with positive control groups (open cavity with pulp tissue exposure) and negative control groups (no intervention). The evaluations were performed in three stages; three, seven and twenty-one days, and consisted of an imaging (nuclear medicine) and histological evaluation (H&E staining, immunohistochemistry and Alizarin Red S). RESULTS: The therapeutic effect of these biomaterials was confirmed. Nuclear medicine evaluation demonstrated that the uptake of 99mTc-Hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (HMDP) showed no significant differences between the different experimental groups and the control, revealing the non-occurrence of differences in the phosphocalcium metabolism. The histological study demonstrated that in mineral trioxide aggregate therapies, the presence of moderate inflammatory infiltration was found after three days, decreasing during follow-ups. The formation of mineralized tissue was only verified at 21 days of follow-up. The tricalcium silicate therapies demonstrated the presence of a slight inflammatory infiltration on the third day, increasing throughout the follow-up. The formation of mineralized tissue was observed in the seventh follow-up day, increasing over time. CONCLUSIONS: The mineral trioxide aggregate (WhiteProRoot®MTA) and tricalcium silicate (Biodentine™) present slight and reversible inflammatory signs in the pulp tissue, with the formation of mineralized tissue. However, the exacerbated induction of mineralized tissue formation with the tricalcium silicate biomaterial may lead to the formation of pulp calcifications.

Evaluation of dentinogenesis inducer biomaterials: an in vivo study

Abstract When exposure of the pulp to external environment occurs, reparative dentinogenesis can be induced by direct pulp capping to maintain pulp tissue vitality and function. These clinical situations require the use of materials that induce dentin repair and, subsequently, formation of a mineralized tissue. Objective: This work aims to assess the effect of tricalcium silicate cements and mineral trioxide aggregate cements, including repairing dentin formation and inflammatory reactions over time after pulp exposure in Wistar rats. Methodology: These two biomaterials were compared with positive control groups (open cavity with pulp tissue exposure) and negative control groups (no intervention). The evaluations were performed in three stages; three, seven and twenty-one days, and consisted of an imaging (nuclear medicine) and histological evaluation (H&E staining, immunohistochemistry and Alizarin Red S). Results: The therapeutic effect of these biomaterials was confirmed. Nuclear medicine evaluation demonstrated that the uptake of 99mTc-Hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (HMDP) showed no significant differences between the different experimental groups and the control, revealing the non-occurrence of differences in the phosphocalcium metabolism. The histological study demonstrated that in mineral trioxide aggregate therapies, the presence of moderate inflammatory infiltration was found after three days, decreasing during follow-ups. The formation of mineralized tissue was only verified at 21 days of follow-up. The tricalcium silicate therapies demonstrated the presence of a slight inflammatory infiltration on the third day, increasing throughout the follow-up. The formation of mineralized tissue was observed in the seventh follow-up day, increasing over time. Conclusions: The mineral trioxide aggregate (WhiteProRoot®MTA) and tricalcium silicate (Biodentine™) present slight and reversible inflammatory signs in the pulp tissue, with the formation of mineralized tissue. However, the exacerbated induction of mineralized tissue formation with the tricalcium silicate biomaterial may lead to the formation of pulp calcifications